Victory are currently missing Socceroos Mark Milligan and James Troisi for reverse World Cup Qualifying games against Syria while Kosta Barbarouses is in Aichi with the All Whites for tonight’s friendly against Japan.

Milligan and Barbarouses are both back for their second stint at the club.

The Sky Blues boss said in the lead-up to this Saturday’s grand final rematch that he had no sympathy for Victory’s problem and suggested perhaps Muscat should take internationals into consideration when signing players.

However Muscat said the A-League was still behind the times as it fails to recognise an international break and felt Arnold’s comments did the game no favour.

“I don’t recall asking for any (sympathy) and nor will I, the fact that he actually tried to sign a couple of players that are here maybe tells a different story,” Muscat said.

“I’m always thinking of progression… comments regarding to the window. It’s archaic comments really that’s held the game and it’ll continue to hold the game where it is at the moment, it won’t progress if we continue to make such comments.

“Making comments that will not support, in my view, stopping football international window or making comments that don’t support it are archaic and has held the game back and continual comments like it will keep the game where it is.”

Apart from the internationals, Muscat said he had a full list of options excluding new signing Leroy George who won’t be 100 per cent for a few weeks.